Offset tubular stilts with underlying height adjustable footrest supports

ABSTRACT

An improved stilt structure is provided having improved stability. The foot end of each stilt is offset slightly providing better balance and making walking easier. Structurally, the stilt comprises an elongate tubular member having parallel but offset upper and lower sections with a foot rest movably supported on the upper section adjacent to a generally S-shaped curved portion joining the upper and lower sections. A separate clamp member is movably secured to the upper section beneath the foot rest to support the foot rest in different adjusted positions on the upper section.

United States Patent 1 Thorson OFFSET TUBULAR STILTS WITH Jan. 1, 1974[76] Inventor: Sheldon E. Thorson, 5442 Greenfield Pleasamoni PrimaryExaminer-Anton O. Oechsle 94566 Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stouffer [22]Filed; Jam 4, 1973 AttorneyRobert H. Eckhoff [2i] Appl. No.: 320,902

, [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 272/70.1 [51] Int. Cl. A63b 25/00 Animproved stilt structure is provided having [58] Field of Search272/701, 70.2; Proved t ility- The foot end of each stilt is offset 3/4;D34/14 E slightly providing better balance and making walking easier.structurally, the stilt comprises an elongate tu- [56] References Cit dbular member having parallel but offset upper and UNITED STATES PATENTSlower sections with a foot rest movably supported on Us 861 9/1871Kimbefl 272/702 the upper section adjacent to a generally S-shaped I348! 10 7/1920 y curved portion joining the upper and lower sections. A2:504:922 M950 separate clamp member is movably secured to the 3.667.7556/1972 Manning 272 70.1 upper seflio" beneath the foot rest to pp thefoot 3.454.965 7/1969 Kenworthy et al. 3/4 rest in different adjustedPositions on the pp 784.020 3/1905 Alback 272/702 tion.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7 Cl im 4 Dr 481,657 l/l970 Switzerland272/70.I a S awmg Igures I '1 OFFSET TUBULAR STIL'IS WITH UNDERLYINGHEIGHT ADJUSTABLE FOOTREST SUPPORTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Stiltshave long been used as ambulatory devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is in general the broad object of thepresent invention to provide a new and improved stilt construction,onewhich ensures greater stability during walking and greater ease inwalking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTIn accordance with this invention, 1 provide suitable length of tubing6. This can be either circular or square in cross section. The tubeincludes an upper end 7 and a lower end 8. The upper end 7 is covered bya resilient rubber cap 9. The lower end 8 receives a plug-type membersuch as a short hexagonal headed bolt covered with a rubber cap 12 tospread the weight over an enlarged area.

A step, generally indicated at 14, is mounted intermediate. the ends ofthe elongated supporting member 6. Step 14 comprises a rectangular pieceof wood having a hole therein fitting over the elongated supportingmember 6. The step is secured at a desired height above lower end 8 by aclamp structure, generally indicated at 16, and which fits about aresilient member 17 engaged with the support 6. Clamp 16 is of awellknown construction; it is secured in place by rotation of screw 18in nut 19. The step 14 is maintained in relation to the clamp 16 by astaple 21 provided about the screw 18 and extending into the block.

In accordance with this invention, the bottom end 8 is offset withrespect to the upper portion 7, the offset being such that the axis ofthe bottom section is parallel to the axis of the upper section, thedistance separating the two axes being approximately one-half the lengthof that portion of the step 14 on which the feet of the user rests.

From the foregoing, I believe it will be apparent that I have provided anew and improved stilt design in which offsetting of the lower portionmakes the stilts easier to walk with. The resilient tips at both endscreate safety, comfort and good appearance. The height of the step beingadjustable, the stilt can be accommodated readily topersons of differingheights. The over all design lends itself toward low cost productionbecause most parts are commonly available in mass produced quantities.

I claim:

1. A stilt comprising an elongate tubular member of substantiallyconstant cross-sectional size throughout its length and having asubstantially straight lower section and a substantially longer,straight upper section, with the axes of the upper and lower sectionsparallel and offset from one another, the adjacent ends of the straightupper and lower sections joined by an arcuately curved section ofgenerally S-shaped configuration, a foot rest slidably received on theupper section at a lower end portion thereof adjacent'to but spacedupwardly from the arcuately curved section, said foot rest beingprovided with a top horizontal surface and a bottom horizontal surfaceand having a hole therethrough adjacent one end thereof through whichsaid upper section is slidably received, and a separate clamp membermovably secured to said upper section entirely beneath said foot restand having a top surface secured to said bottom horizontal surface ofsaid foot rest supporting said foot rest on said upper section, saidclamp member being adjustably positionable along the length of saidupper section to enable said foot rest to be supported at differentaxially adjusted positions on said upper section.

2. A stilt as in claim 1, wherein the foot rest is rectangular and thetop and bottom horizontal surfaces thereof are parallel to one another,said hole having a length between the top and bottom horizontal surfacessubstantially greater than the cross-sectional thickness of the uppersection of the tubular member.

3. A stilt as in claim 2, wherein said foot rest comprises a block ofwood.

4. A stilt as in claim 1, wherein said clamp member includes an arcuateportion extending around said upper section beneath said foot rest, anut supported by said clamp member, and a screw threaded through saidnut and into engagement with a clamping plate to clamp said uppersection between said arcuate portion and said clamping plate.

5. A stilt as in claim 4, wherein a resilient member is engaged betweensaid upper section and said arcuate ortion and said clamping plate.

6. A stilt as in claim 1, wherein fastening means extends from saidclamp member into said bottom horizontal surface of said foot rest tosecure said foot rest

1. A stilt comprising an elongate tubular member of substantiallyconstant cross-sectional size thrOughout its length and having asubstantially straight lower section and a substantially longer,straight upper section, with the axes of the upper and lower sectionsparallel and offset from one another, the adjacent ends of the straightupper and lower sections joined by an arcuately curved section ofgenerally Sshaped configuration, a foot rest slidably received on theupper section at a lower end portion thereof adjacent to but spacedupwardly from the arcuately curved section, said foot rest beingprovided with a top horizontal surface and a bottom horizontal surfaceand having a hole therethrough adjacent one end thereof through whichsaid upper section is slidably received, and a separate clamp membermovably secured to said upper section entirely beneath said foot restand having a top surface secured to said bottom horizontal surface ofsaid foot rest supporting said foot rest on said upper section, saidclamp member being adjustably positionable along the length of saidupper section to enable said foot rest to be supported at differentaxially adjusted positions on said upper section.
 2. A stilt as in claim1, wherein the foot rest is rectangular and the top and bottomhorizontal surfaces thereof are parallel to one another, said holehaving a length between the top and bottom horizontal surfacessubstantially greater than the cross-sectional thickness of the uppersection of the tubular member.
 3. A stilt as in claim 2, wherein saidfoot rest comprises a block of wood.
 4. A stilt as in claim 1, whereinsaid clamp member includes an arcuate portion extending around saidupper section beneath said foot rest, a nut supported by said clampmember, and a screw threaded through said nut and into engagement with aclamping plate to clamp said upper section between said arcuate portionand said clamping plate.
 5. A stilt as in claim 4, wherein a resilientmember is engaged between said upper section and said arcuate portionand said clamping plate.
 6. A stilt as in claim 1, wherein fasteningmeans extends from said clamp member into said bottom horizontal surfaceof said foot rest to secure said foot rest to said clamp member.
 7. Astilt as in claim 1, wherein a resilient cap is on the upper and lowerends of the stilt.